Education + Tech

Education & Tech, was created to build hope that education based on social technologies, can transform the new century, and enable abundance not only spiritually but economically. Milton Ramirez, Ed.D. - @tonnet is the founder & editor. He is a teacher, tech blogger, writes on education, and hails this blog from Union, NJ. For further questions, tips or concerns please e-mail him to:miltonramirez [at] educationandtech [dot] com

Teacher + Scholar

If you are a regular to Blog Education & Tech, you shall remember that I am a blogger and I'd written a post about education almost everyday since 2003. Education & Tech provides you with education news, expert tech advice, classroom management ideas, and social media tools for educators, administrators, parents and k-12 students.

In 2013, we saw a number of exciting education news emerge. Although predicting the future is always a risky business not only in technology but education, but we've made our homework to make the latest best-of-2013 installment using Google Analytics. Among the stories on this list are items reaching into the literacy, changes in elearning, and classroom changes due to technology.

As human beings, we are divided into two groups: extroverts and introverts. Extroverts are people who are more social, i.e., they love being with others. They draw their energies from outside world and therefore prefer the company of people rather than being alone. Introverts, on the other hand, are group of people who are more comfortable in their own space and avoid gatherings. Introverts are reflective in nature and take time to adjust with new situations. This is why they are poor learners and often struggle with group-based learning.

Introverts are slow learners as they take time to think and respond in classroom activities. Teachers often have to tackle with introverts as they are more passive and hesitant to open up. Their lack of interaction becomes more visible in group discussions that require team work.

Let’s take a look at how educators can make this 'asocial' group of people engage in their classroom activities.

1. Wait for their turn: As a teacher, you need to be more patient and accommodating with an introvert. Introverts are not quick to respond questions. Introverts possess excellent critical thinking skills which is why they never respond in haste. Therefore you should give them the time to process their thoughts. Instead of forcing them to respond, you need to wait until they raise their hand.

2. Use their writing forte: Introverts tend to be good writers. Use this strength in a classroom for group discussions. Ask them to give written analysis of a topic. As they have strong critical thinking skills, you can expect well thought-out answers from them.

3. Do not bring them onto stage: Introverts will be least responsive when they get under the spotlight. They might not speak up a single word if they are in front of a whole class. They want to keep a low profile and you must respect that. Make it more convenient by dealing with them in private. Rather than putting them on center stage, it is better to engage them within their space.

4. Pair them with an appropriate partner: Never pair an introvert with a bunch of extroverts in the hope of getting his participation. Introverts only like their own company or someone with the same temperament. They will be more comfortable with someone who shares the same wavelength with them, like a friend. As they both understand each other, they will get along quickly.

5. Give them a demo in private: Introverts hate group activities out of the fear of failure. As they are shy, they do not want to be singled out. You can make them more comfortable by giving an intro of the topic just before the discussion. A slight introduction of the topic will give them the confidence to participate in a group activity.

6. Utilize their intellectual side: Introverts have bundles of ideas. They have sharp thinking skills which make them an ideal person for brainstorming sessions. So the next time you conduct a group discussion, motivate them to give their ideas for an activity. This will grow their interest in the group discussions and encourage them to participate actively in group-based projects.

7. Give them a meaningful role: Everyone feels obliged when given a responsibility. You can engage an introvert in a discussion by assigning them a task. Ask them to do the calculations for a geometrical equation while others perform the task. Similarly, you can ask them to check the accuracy of a science laboratory activity as a supervisor of the task. These little efforts will make them more interested in the task and they will be more active in the activity when it is carried out the next time.

8. Provide prompt help: Introverts are silent learners. They never put across issues to their teachers. They might have problems with a topic or activity but they will not complain about it unless it is exposed. This might be an underlying factor why an introvert is reluctant to participate in a group discussion or activity. Try discovering any such issues and provide instant feedback and support. Make sure that the guy is comfortable with sharing any problem he might be going through.

(*) Cressida Mary has written several dozen articles on essay & career tips that were published in educational sites. She is considered as a prolific academician in education sector due to his exceptional academic skills. Currently she is associated with essay villa as an academic coach.

We are done with 2012, or nearly done. The festive season is upon us and here we are wishing all of you taking one the most relaxing and peaceful Merry Christmas, and for those of you who aren’t for whatever reason, please don’t work too hard.

I want to thank you all for visiting Education & Tech, for your guest posts, your comments, your friendship, and your support throughout this year.

Again, I wish you all peace, love, joy, merriment, safe travels, good cheer, and kisses under the mistletoe. Enjoy the seasonal break, play in the snow, get cozy with the ones you love, decompress, eat chocolate, and have a glass of bubbly or two. This time of the year you all are forgiven.

As ever, though, if you think there are things we are doing wrong or that there are ways in which we can improve what we offer you, please let us know.

QR codes (or Quick Response codes) are encrypted symbols that are used as a label which can be read by a machine, typically a scanner. Earlier used in the automobile industries, the use of QR codes has become a standard procedure in consumer retailing. They are used to identify a product and get all details related to it. The system is prevalent among consumers who can use the codes to get any information about a product in a matter of seconds. However, we will not be talking here about the practices of QR codes in retail market but will focus on its potential in the context of education.

QR codes have dramatically sped up the process of learning. It has brought in a more innovative and faster way to access information. With the advents of QR codes in education, it has become
more convenient and less painful to share information across the network. All you need is to scan a QR code using a smartphone or camera device.

In this article, I will discuss 4 popular uses of QR codes in the context of education:

1. Put It on Reading Materials

One of the most popular ways of using QR codes in education is to put in on a book. By scanning a QR code on books, students can easily get access to various educational resources suggested by the author. Similarly, teachers can use QR codes on their notes that students can later decode and land at a blog where they can learn more about a subject.

Teachers can also make this task more interesting and exciting by asking students to create a blog where they can post informative articles. The resources can then be converted into book form with a QR link to the blog. This will enhance engagement among students and allow them to communicate their ideas across a wider range of audience.

2. Use It To Enhance Collaboration

QR codes can facilitate students with sharing of information. With QR codes, students can easily collaborate with each other using any cloud-based storage system. Students just need to put their educational resources on cloud-supported platform and then share the QR link with fellow students. In this way, they can utilize educational resources on a single platform without the hassles of mobility. This will enhance productivity among students and help them execute a project in less time.

3. Effective Tool for Students to Present a Subject

Students can use QR code links in their presentation to supplement additional information about a topic. This is particularly helpful for university students who can use this technology to present their proposal for a final year project. Prospective graduates can attract the attention of review committee by directing them to a blog or website where they will find multimedia-rich information contents on the subject in question.

4. Teachers Can Use It For Classroom Activities

Teachers can use QR codes for various purposes. They can use it to refer a website that students can visit to know more about a topic or experiment. Similarly, teachers can use this technology to link a video blog, photo blog or any other multimedia website where students can engage in interactive activities.

Teachers can also use this innovative tool to share creations of students with their parents. Teachers can create a portal or blog where they can manage the work portfolio of a student and give the QR code link to the parents or a guardian. In the same way, they can share the QR code with the class supervisor to report students’ progress.

With the increasing popularity of smart phones and tablets, today’s kids are able to learn just about anywhere. This new year, why not give your child a Christmas gift that will help making learning fun while giving them an invaluable edge in the classroom? The LenovoYoga Tablet 10 is an affordable and durable 10-inch tablet full of features to help your youngster make the most of his or her education, and with these 10 educational apps you can feel confident that he or she is enjoying learning to the fullest.

Monkey Preschool Lunchbox. Designed for preschoolers, this fun-loving app features six games to help teach kids about numbers, letters, colors, matching and opposites. A cute little monkey guides them through the games, and quirky voices and sound effects add to the fun.

Super Why! This app from PBS Kids is based on the television series and helps kids ages 3 to 6 with their reading and writing skills. Mini-games focus on letter identification, letter sounds, writing, rhyming and word meanings.

Stack the States. Kids can use this game to learn about geographic locations, state capitals, and even flags from across the United States. When a level is completed, a player earns another state which appears on his or her personal map of the country. The more states a kid unlocks, the more mini-games he or she can access, so the fun never stops.

Toca Kitchen. Toca Kitchen won Google Play’s Parent’s Choice award in 2012, and it’s easy to see why. This app allows kids to learn all about different foods and how they are cooked. Kids can watch characters’ responses to the foods they slice, fry, boil, cook or microwave. Best of all, there are no time limits, scoring or stressful music, so kids can create at their own pace with pride.

Mickey’s Paint and Play. This game from Disney gives kids access to a boundless supply of colors, patterns, tools, stickers and other fun ways to create a masterpiece as they learn about colors, form, lines, and symmetry. There’s even a Mousekemusic Player that allows kids to create their own music to complement their artwork.

Duolingo. One of the most popular free apps on Google Play. Duolingo won "Best of the Best" in 2013. Lessons are short, which is great for little attention spans, and shiny achievements help learners chart their progress as they learn Spanish, German, French, Portuguese, Italian or English.

Edmodo. Edmodo is a fantastic free app that allows students to collaborate with their teachers any time. Students and parents can use this app to view assignments, hold class discussions, share files, monitor grades and more. A classroom activity feed is a great tool for busy parents, and the resource library is a fantastic way to keep the learning going, even outside the classroom.

Blackboard Mobile Learn. With Blackboard Mobile Learn, it’s easy to keep up with schoolwork and grades. This app, which is free when supported by your child’s school, allows users to attach files, engage in discussions, monitor grades, view and comment on blogs and journals, and even take tests.

Mathway. It is a free learning app that doesn’t require network access, so it can be used just about anywhere and is a huge help to kids who find math a bit tricky. Use this tool to find the correct answers to math problems, and with an upgraded membership you can also access step-by-step explanations in basic mathematics, algebra, geometry, trigonometry, pre-calculus, calculus and
statistics.

Quizlet. With Quizlet, learners of all ages can use flashcards to enhance their vocabulary, or they can employ Learn mode to gauge their progress and find out where any gaps in their knowledge may be hiding. They can even use Match mode to compete with other users in a wide variety of fun yet educational games.

There you have it – 10 wonderful mind-stimulating education apps to please any K-12 student. Of course there are thousands more for you to explore on your own, but these 10 are a solid place
to start.

(*) Jennifer Thayer is a technology writer who loves sharing helpful ways people can utilize technology in their day-to-day lives. Follow her on Twitter to see what other tips she comes up
with.

They say that desperate times call for desperate measures and education is no exception. In fact, in the last five years since the economic downturn, education has been one of the hardest hit sectors. There have been many dramatic changes to the US economy with regards to various financial markets and individual industries. However, the educational system, being the bedrock of all other specialized fields, has a significant stake in the "state of the union."

1. Financial Worries. Due to the fallout of the 2008 economic recession, as average household income levels declined in the US and the price of education went up, the value of the funds available with families for financing education went downhill. According to the research carried out by The Lawlor Group, a renowned name in college marketing and consulting, the net combined cost of college education, including tuition fee, board and lodging, averaged $24,000 in 2013. This is almost half of the yearly earnings of a typical American household. The 2013 outlook on higher education in the U.S. was also viewed as negative by Moody’s Investors Service due to strained revenue sources. The US government shutdown in October 2013 due to an over-extended federal debt has definitely impacted the education sector as well.

2. Online Education. Over the years, more and more technological integration has been witnessed in various educational environments. Online degree programs are becoming more and more popular due to their ease of access and instant delivery of learning tools and knowledge-based content.

3. Technology-based learning. Coupled with high-speed internet and mobile platforms such as tablets and smart phones, acquiring education has become more of a virtual exercise than a traditional one that requires physical presence.

4. Digital Literacy . The value and efficiency of imparting education through digital rather than conventional means such as physical paper-based books has also been hailed by teachers as being a crucial trend by around 65% of college and university level teachers.

5. Role of Social Media. Social media is not just limited to sharing songs, music videos, TV shows, movies and serving as an advertising platform. Websites such as YouTube, Facebook and Twitter have become mediums of visually appealing learning content, so much so that they have come out from the private domain of the students and taken center stage in classrooms.

6. Prioritizing and Public Perception. The capacity of families to meet the cost of college education has reached it very limits. Students are now taking factors such as the ROI (return on investment) into account more and more and deciding which majors to specialize in accordingly.

7. Demographics Versus Graduates. Where the overall number of high school graduates seeking college education is decreasing, the ethnic diversity is witnessing an expansion. More population demographics are being represented in student bodies in institutes of higher learning each time around.

8. Age and Wisdom. The post-recession educational environment saw an increasing number of students aged 25 and above seek admission in colleges. This also increased the demand for more flexible class schedules and workload to accommodate them.

9. MOOC Magnetism. The MOOC phenomenon has been gathering steam since it appeared on the scene in 2008. Standing for 'Massive Open online Course,' it enables students to acquire very specific learning, usually for free with just a computer and the internet.

10. Work and Play. The use of video games and interactive white boards in classrooms is becoming increasingly popular, leading to the coining of the term GBL (game-based learning).

What Teachers Have to Say

Edudemic.com, a prominent web portal for bringing teachers, students and higher education administrators on a common platform, conducted a survey of what teachers felt regarding educational trends. Up to 60%-70% of higher education teachers feel that web-based tools and resources for education purposes as well as digital literacy constituted the most significant trend.

Teachers have mixed opinions on how the deteriorating economy has affected education. For instance, the president of Vassar College replied in response to Moody’s negative assessment of higher education that there is a need to differentiate between the temporary and permanent economic fluctuations and not apply them across the board.

However, according to the results of a poll conducted by the Carnegie Corporation and the TIME magazine in late 2012, an overwhelming majority of senior administrators of colleges and universities
across the U.S. (96%) expressed deep concern on the crises that higher education was entrenched in. Yet, around half of them agreed that higher education was moving in the right direction.

(*) Kim Lee started working as an education and career reporter in college and have been working as a freelance writer for Online Education. She has completed bachelor in marketing from university of North Carolina.

There is a seachange occurring in Western education right now. Not just in classrooms, but in the upbringing of our children. More and more kids are being raised in an environment where knowledge and understanding of the world around them comes from the glossy screen of a computer or tablet, instead of the printed page. Whereas parents merely a decade ago would be more likely to limit the time their children spent with video games, TV, and even on the net; the association of the internet with edification, and devices with efficiency, has many of those same parents promoting the use of technology to their children.

Children, of course, love this. Interactivity, sound, and movement are now the expectation of young minds, and picture books seem staid and old-fashioned in comparison. One would expect that children would be some of the most zealous devotees of new, personal technology. Although there is some indication that a new generation of children are actually swinging back in favor of paper books over ebooks, a study this year also revealed that for the first time, children are reading more on screen (computers, tablets, and e-readers) than in print.

The danger of depending upon technology in the education of our young ones is a great one, not least because many of the arguments in favour of technology are based upon misconceptions and obfuscations of how education works.

Anybody who has tried to teach the finer points of literacy to a young child knows that attention span is both crucial to the learning process, and entirely dependent on the environment. If the internet, and personal devices, encourage anything, it is multi-tasking, quick retrieval (and dismission) of information, and the emphasis of the short, trivial fact over the long-form text. It
offers information without context, facts without a deeper understanding of the cause. This is anathema to the very spirit of learning within young children, where knowledge of the underlying
principles and ideas of things such as reading, the environment, and themselves is infinitely important to their development. If we take away that deeper understanding and replace it with a
more superficial type of knowledge.

The extent to which writing is also a lot more effective than typing has also come under scrutiny over recent years. Research shows that children consistently did better writing with a pen
when they wrote essays. They wrote more and they wrote faster, due to using cognitive processes and parts of the brain that are completely bypassed when typing. It is believed in some circles that motor skills in childhood - one of the most important and valuable developments a child has - are inextricably linked with learning to write, and hindering these by urging children to type rather than write in a lot of cases could have unforeseen effects in other areas.

Worryingly, what little research has been done into the health effects of so much screen usage on the developing eyes of young children has also proven quite ominous for the all-digital future.
A study in Australia showed that children who spent more time in front of screens had narrower blood vessels in their eyes than children who played outside more. Whilst the long-term effects
of screen usage on young eyes are unknown, much preliminary evidence suggest increased likelihood of ocular problems.

We’re still seeing the unfolding effects of tech-use from an earlier age, but all of the research done in the area is something we should be concerned about. It is one thing entirely to ignore
the health, social, and educative properties of using technology, rather than paper, in adult education, but when dealing with the far more malleable and impressionable minds of children, these issues could be incredibly damaging for future generations. There is, of course, a place for technology, and a place for paper, in modern education, business, and the home, but we need a greater understanding of what we as humans gain and lose from these tools. The concern is that by the time we begin to understand the negative aspects of tech on our children, instead of recognising only the positives, it may already be too late.

Education officials keep pushing for the idea that standards drive our instruction. In this context there is a wide debate about the Common Core Standards and how a 'prescripcion' will work for every student in the U.S.

We all need to keep innovating, even in education. And if you happen to be in the classroom, then there is a chance you have planted the seed that in time would be watered by another teacher, without knowing yet another colleague is going to reap the harvest. In education there is not a formula for everything. Or at least that's what "the country's most outspoken critic of education's fixation on grades [and] test scores", Alfie Kohn thinks.

On one of his most recent contribution to the The Washington Post, he answers with a 12 points guideline the question some business/politician people in power, have to respond: Do we really need education policies and practices to cover everything that goes on in the classroom?

1. Learning should be organized around problems, projects, and (students’) questions – not around lists of facts or skills, or separate disciplines.
2. Thinking is messy; deep thinking is really messy. Therefore beware prescriptive standards and outcomes that are too specific and orderly.
3. The primary criterion for what we do in schools: How will this affect kids’ interest in the topic (and their excitement about learning more generally)?
4. If students are 'off task,' the problem may be with the task, not with the kids.
5. In outstanding classrooms, teachers do more listening than talking, and students do more talking than listening. Terrific teachers often have teeth marks on their tongues.
6. Children learn how to make good decisions by making decisions, not by following directions.
7. When we aren’t sure how to solve a problem relating to curriculum, pedagogy, or classroom conflict, the best response is often to ask the kids.
8. The more focused we are on kids’ 'behaviors,' the more we end up missing the kids themselves – along with the needs, motives, and reasons that underlie their actions.
9. If students are rewarded or praised for doing something (e.g., reading, solving problems, being kind), they’ll likely lose interest in whatever they had to do to get the reward.
10. The more that students are led to focus on how well they’re doing in school, the less engaged they’ll tend to be with what they’re doing in school.
11. All learning can be assessed, but the most important kinds of learning are very difficult to measure – and the quality of that learning may diminish if we try to reduce it to numbers.
12. Standardized tests assess the proficiencies that matter least. Such tests serve mostly to make unimpressive forms of instruction appear successful.

By Paige Donahue*
There are many warnings against the internet. Some people make it sound as if the internet can only cause harm to those who use it. However, every day there are more reasons to believe that it's definitely a positive innovation. Distance learning is possible thanks to the world wide web. Information disseminates fast through the help of social networks and blogs. But most importantly, learning is promoted with the help of the different tools provided online.

What's even more amazing is how some of these tools are free. Students and teachers alike will benefit from the free writing tools they can procure anytime, any day.

1. Title Capitalization – How to capitalize titles is one the first things taught to a student. But over the years, it's where students commonly make mistakes. The rules seem to be baffling majority of students. If they find in difficulty in understanding which words should be capitalized, this website does it easily for them. This tool auto-corrects as they type in the text box.

2. Pro Writing Aid – Just by copy-pasting your composition on the text box, you'll be given a thorough analysis of your work. It covers a comprehensive editing scope since it doesn't just deals with grammar but even syntax and spelling. It directly points out mistakes and offers suggestions on how the composition can be improved.

3. CSU's Writing Studio – Colorado State University is free even for those who aren't enrolled in the school. By creating an account, the user can sort through all their writing requirements and helps them organize their materials for each writing project. Other features of this tool are the to-do list, blogs, and personal calendar.

4. Read Write Think – Students are often advised to create an outline first before heading straight into writing. With Read Write Think's Essay Map, users can plot out their ideas. It has an interactive flow chart that will guide the user in plotting out their ideas to create an outline. The website offers other interactive tools that can help students compose poems, improve vocabulary, and analyze stories.

5. Easy Essay – A tool that's used by grade school students and dissertation writers alike, this website aims to make writing easy. It aims to help writers to organize their thoughts. There are prompts that will guide them in the process. Easy Essay is designed to be convenient that's why it can be learned in less than five minutes.

6. English Grammar Checker – It instantly analyzes any composition entered in the text box. It doesn't just check grammar but spelling as well. This grammar checker also offers suggestions on what you can do to correct and improve your work.

7. Copyediting & Proofreading For Dummies – If you're looking for a guidebook in writing, this is probably the best one out there. It's the simplest style book out there, because this book aims to be understandable by anyone. It's viewable online without having to register. If you're in need of a quick grammar notes, this is a good tool to check.

The rapid growth of technology can be a scary thing, but once it partners with a great cause it surely creates wonders.

(*) Paige Donahue is a graduate student and a copy editor for a rush essay service. You can reach her on Twitter or visit her blog The Very Last Paige.

Statistics shown by the United Nations, Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has demonstrated that in Latin America there is still much to do about superior education. In Towards an Education for Everyone's report [es], it is said that only 1 in 10 young people aged 25 to 29 years old have completed five years of higher education in 2010 (a slight increase from 7 per cent in the year 2000).

The National Constitution of 2008 and the Higher Education Law of 2010 have changed the way Ecuador’s universities are funded, administered, and accredited. As part of a constitutional mandate, which establishes higher education needs to be re-evaluated every 5 years. This week the Board of Assessment, Accreditation and Quality Assurance in Higher Education (CEAACES by its abbreviation in Spanish) presented the second report of the state of Ecuadorian universities [es]. The first report was completed by defunct CONEA when 71 higher education institutions where evaluated.

As a reference to the first report, officials in Ecuador declared higher education in crisis and even called its institutions 'garage universities', also reported by The New York Times. Today they have forgotten about it; considering many of the so called garage universities were closed down and the actual report only includes 54 out the 71 that were running back in 2009.

Ecuador’s higher education system is undergoing dramatic changes. Francisco Cadena, head of CEAACES has been cautious to identify the process as downgrading, to the effect that only 3 universities were reclassified as category A. He says it's a revamped new process where 48 indicators were considered, to mention: academia, efficiency, research, organization and infrastructure.

As a result of this new process many universities which were category A were moved to B. The Ecuadorian educational system has improved as a whole, according to Cadena. The numbers: There were 7,899 M.A. professors in the 2008, but 11,307 in the 2012; before they had 460 PhD and now 756 PhDs in the academia. Five year ago, a professor earned an average of USD 1,249, today they are being paid USD 2,239.

Full-time employment for academics also increased from 6,046 to 9,994.

3 Universities classified into category A

Rene Ramirez, is the National Secretary of Higher Education (SENESCYT by its abbreviation in Spanish). He has said that this new classification needs to be understood as relative, taking into account that none of the universities in the country under category A are among the first 1000 best universities in the world. "The objective is to get there", he states.

The total of higher education organizations evaluated in Ecuador is 54. Out of these, 28 are part of the public education, 9 are co-financed, and 17 belong to the private sector. We are not clear of the difference between 'co-financed' and 'private'. The following are the top universities in Ecuador as of now and are not necessarily in that order:

Ecuador has risen 20 positions according to the Global Competitiveness Index in quality education system, quality management in the academy, internet access in schools, availability of research, and training. Ecuador is now one of the most advanced countries in higher education of latin America, as reported by Europa Press [es].

Downgraded universities demand reconsideration

The CEAACES has said that demoted universities reflect a change in evaluation criteria and are not an indication of lower institutional standards or performance. However, none of the universities in Cuenca (The third city with the most political power in Ecuador) have qualified to the highest level this time.

Cuenca High Lifereports that Fabian Carrasco, University of Cuenca's rector is surprised and upset. He wants more explanation about how the new rankings were reached and Carrasco wants a reconsideration of their status. The University of Cuenca, the largest public university in southern Ecuador, was downgraded from category A to B in the latest rankings.

Carlos Cedeño, rector of University of Guayaquil, rejected CEAACES categorization, which placed his institution in category D. "It was inconsistent with the need to properly balance data and reality", he proclaimed. However, Cedeño declared that in the next 30 days he will submit a plan for improvement, according to online newspaper El Tiempo [es].

The great surprise is that Central University and Catholic University (PUCE), both in the capital Quito were downgraded, standing now in category B.

Manuel Corrales, Catholic University's rector said his university is, "Good, excellent, but not perfect and we are always working to improve." PUCE is the only Ecuadorian higher education institution among the 100 best universities in Latin America, by QS World Ranking 2013. Clímaco Egas Arroyo, the vice chancellor of the Central university, defended his alma mater by saying that those three universities that have grown faster, are individual and smaller. Arroyo said Central University receives a larger population (42,000 students) and covers all areas of knowledge (17 faculties).

Obviously there are institutions that were held in category A and others made gains, thus moving up on the scale. All of them have positive commentaries.

D-rated universities will have to improve or else...

Of the 54 universities re-evaluated by CEAACES: eight fell into D-rated institutions. If improvement is not noted in the 2014 evaluation, Ecuadorian officials have the option to close these universities.

Although Ramirez clarified [es] that in 2014, those in category B will not necessarily receive less resources. The university budget in the upcoming year will be about USD 1.3 million.

Ecuador also expects to have four new universities.

Elizabeth Upper Academy student Bradley Ramirez has also contributed to this report

Finding the perfect music instructor in your neighborhood is no easy feat, because not everyone lives near a recognized school or a music academy.

Online resources have removed some of the geographical barriers associated with learning, but there are still a lot of factors that come into play; experience, educational qualifications, background, style of teaching, etc.

Insider Higher Ed, a Washington D.C publication, reported that online learning has advantages over the conventional face-to-face environment when it comes to student learning. The result of the study found that online learning had a better outcome than face to face learning on average.

And according to District of Columbia Public Schools, online education is enhanced by technology. It can be lessons involving the sole use of technology, or a blend of technology and face-to-face lessons, like live video conferencing.

This indicates that technology and online platforms have assisted the process, along with opening up resources for students to find the perfect lesson in their respective localities.

Some resources that aid the search process are:

1. Facebook Graph Search
It’s unlikely that you would be using Graph Search to search for music lessons; and you’re missing out on all the new search features and data Facebook has introduced in recent times. Now it is possible to make search queries in the search bar at the top of profile page based on a particular location.

For example, typing in music teachers who live in Washington DC, will present a listing of all the individuals who teach music in the search locations, along with their employment position and other profile data. You can browse the listing and contact the individual who looks suitable.

2. Online platforms
In the same way that online education efforts in our nation's capitol are enhanced by technology, so too are its resources multiplied by Internet tools. A lot of companies have launched their own online search engines (some have even combined them with social networks) to help students search for appropriate music teachers and courses from the comfort of their laptops or computers. Students can easily find piano lessons, guitar lessons and a variety of other courses, and some platform offerings even allow them to enter a zip code to search instructors nearby.

Mooctivity is an example of a company that recently launched such a platform, combining a social network with an advanced search engine to help students browse through above 500 courses based on key course features, reviews of instructors, choice of friends, recommendation of teachers, etc.

3. Search engines
Google recently released their latest hummingbird algorithm, which makes it easier for search engine users to search for long tail keywords. It essentially implies that users are going to get better search results whenever they enter a long, even scattered search query, compared to the results that were presented before this introduction.

Now long-tail search queries are going to return better results. Such search queries will return teacher listings while taking into account all the factors discussed at the start.

4. Forums and answer sites
Forums are the place where you will get to read honest reviews about particular lessons and instructors, because students are likely to share unbiased reviews and experiences in such places. Answer sites, on the other hand, can be used to directly ask if there are any lessons near your location.

You’ll have to create an account before you can participate in forums, and the same principle applies for answer sites. You can even include your requirements (teaching experience, gender) in both the platforms. Community members usually reply very quickly, depending on how much members are active at any given moment.

Feel free to use one or a combination of these tools to search for lessons that fit in your needs.

Thanks to our supporting contributor, Katherine, for this featured post.

Would you still want to adhere to that old classroom system in education? I guess, in the age of i-phones, i-pads, and technology transforming learning and teaching altogether, you would not. Would you? The developments took place in communication technologies in recent time prompted educators to think anew. And, the emergence of hi-tech gadgets towards the improved style of delivering education really turns our minds to a tech-based learning, which is easy, effective and enjoyable.

Students nowadays are not so shy and kind of introvert as previously they used to be. Rather, they now prefer more participation. They are the active audience, ready to take on new assignments in their favourite mode of learning.

OpenClass

The scene of a poster board in a classroom is absolutely extinct now. The place has been swiftly acquired by OpenClass, obliterating every boundary of time and distance. It is a cloud-based system that enables students to always be connected to their study materials, assignments and teachers. To a step further, mobile and tablet apps associated with OpenClass give enormous power to the students, where they can access their course content, follow and participate in announcements and discussions.

Next, do you still find anyone carrying his or her bulky three-ring binder anymore? How can you when tablets, textbooks are smart ways available to keep every records and folders intact safely. More to this, one now has in hand web 2.0 tool, LiveBinders that users can use to create their binder online.

eBooks

Textbooks are even not in their old shapes and styles. They have altogether changed their appearance to make it as web-based sites, animations, additional materials, videos, assessments and other materials to conduct this new generation style of learning. This is the era of eBooks in the profuse strain atmosphere of e-learning. So, say goodbye to backpacks and heavy textbooks in the ready availability of easy-way education.

LMS

The most updated development in e-learning, LMS or Learning Management System are web-based access to learning contents and administration. This system provides learning and teaching to a larger population.

Virtual Classrooms

One has the advantages of web-conferencing to bring very distant talents and knowledgeable minds at your hand's stretch. Web-conferencing is the basic way of conducting virtual classrooms. And, with virtual classrooms, students take recourse to webinars for personal and professional development. The time is for this kind of blended learning engaging technology in its best for versatile academic enterprises.

Online Library

With this kind of developments brought forward in education strategy, would you consider to stand on a queue for your new issuance of a book? Definitely not! I know. This is because, Open Text Library Management Systems, another fully web-based infrastructure, is there right for your use to manage digital content, multimedia printings and every other internet resource integrated library systems for automatic library operations.

Mobile phones are even also not limited to mere conversational end anymore; rather they are designed to devise new age learning. Smart phones and i-phones are designed to always stay connected with the learning contents and tutors’ supervision. Technology has changed the definition of education – at least in the way they are taught and learnt.

(*) Regina Brown is an educationist and a regular blogger on education. She recommends today’s new age learners to opt for online distance learning so that they can pursue quality education and achieve a balanced lifestyle as well as a successful career.

Thanksgiving is a fun time of the year, and an educational one too. If you are looking for a few resources to use in delivering short lessons on the history and traditions of the holiday which dates back to the earliest days of America, here you'll find plenty.

Because Thanksgiving is so old, there are a number of conflicting accounts of its history, which to me should always foster a healthy debate. This of course, makes Thanksgiving fun and versatile, with an array of topics, beginning with history and literature, to health, games, and nutrition.

12. Thanksgiving educational websites. Jerry Blumengarten has been cataloging the internet for years with resources for students, teachers, administrators, and parents. Impossible not to check out @Cybraryman's Thanskgiving curation.

The school is over, and it is time to enter a college. There is no need to worry or be afraid of that. Believe us, your college life will become the most exciting period, full of unforgettable moments, new knowledge, skills, and real friends. But remember, that a college is not just a pleasant time, but a big responsibility as well. This is a new social structure, that may be quite difficult for you to accept after your school. Fortunately, there are some tips found which can help you during your first year of study, if you follow them of course.

Try to remember them, and you will become the coolest freshman ever!

#1 Do not miss classes

This is your first year of study, and you can't be sure which subjects you need more than others. It may appear, that psychology will not become your #1 subject, and sociology will give you much more benefits than you thought first. That is why never skip them! Attend each class, listen to professors carefully, make notes, and try to understand everything you are told. If necessary, you can even record a lecture to make sure you do not miss anything.

#2 Choose your perfect place to study

Surrounding means a lot. Some of us feel more comfortable being alone, other ones are able to learn and remember information even if there are dozens of people around. Just listen to your intuition and choose your perfect place, where you will learn everything and do all tasks. It may be a library, if you prefer being alone and study at quiet places; or you can do all homework in your hostel room, if your neighbors do not bother you at all.

#3 Remember about time

As far as you understand, you are not in a school anymore. College will take much more time from you, that is why you should always remember about that and plan everything carefully. Moreover, now you will spend more time in class, so, get ready for this.

#4 Do not be shy to ask for help

It is nothing wrong with that. If you have troubles with study or your student life in general, make sure you have someone to help you here. It can be your peers, professors, your parents, friends, such services as Writing-Help.com. Find a mentor. It is too difficult and unnecessary to do everything by your own and try to cope with everything alone. You are a person, not a robot. And people help each other by the way.

#5 Know your professors

Do not be lazy or afraid of getting acquainted with those people who teach you. It will help you understand their conceptions better and get help when you actually need it. Even if you sit in a large class, you can always speak to your professor or ask him a question. There is nothing wrong with that, it is even better for you.

#6 Try different techniques

You are a freshman, a new person to all this college and study stuff. You do not yet know which study technique will work perfect for you, that is why you better try different ones to choose the best one afterwards. As far as you understand, a right study technique will let you learn and remember everything much better; that is why do not be lazy to spend some time on choosing the right one for yourself.

#7 Do not forget about fun

It is always possible to find time for fun in a college. Moreover, it is even necessary to do. Free time and breaks are something every student needs, that is why do not forget about it. College is fun, and your task is to make the best here. But make sure you do everything in its best time. No drinking!

You will definitely remember the years of your study, so, try to make its first year really cool and effective. Being a freshman, you will lay the foundation of your future and determine what you really want to do in your life. Do not spend this year in vain: learn everything new, meet new friends, open your mind to new horizons, unveil new talents, and just take pleasure from the process of your study itself.

(*) Alen Strike is a 26-year-old blogger who works on essay writing services – www.writing-help.com, and he is always ready to help students reach their academic goals. Find more works of Alex on Google+

Are you sick of your boring monotonous life? You want to get out of the shell your studies had enclosed you in? You want to savor the taste of glamour and taste the sweetness of fame? You want cameras clicking at your face; have your friends point at you in admiration? You want yourself loaded with expensive clothes and lavish accessories? You want to travel a lot and meet lovely people from all over the world?

Yes folks you are in the right direction! The track to fashion modeling will calm your lust for all these desires.

Once you are over with studies the thought that proves to be an anxiety chewing gum is "how do I earn bucks???" You do not want to enter the same robotic routine of sitting in a murky office doing some clerical job or serving customers in a restaurant with an artificial smile pasted on face! If you are among those who have their walls all decorated with beautiful shots of celebrities and famous stars you will be a good fit in the world of fashion. So make the first move with a job hunt; see what vacancies exist in the world of modeling. All you need is some effort on yourself, trust me,your auditions will be as swift as waves. Moreover an hourglass figure will do wonders, make an exercise schedule, a diet plan and go see a proper beautician.

We all see how the fashion industry is revolutionizing with the passage of time; there are countries where heaps of revenues are generated from this industry only. To be successful in this world: dear students, you need to make your own web of contacts. Fruitful networking is the key to be quickly recognized by famous designers and photographers. Once you become a darling pie of these fashion tycoons the ladder to success will serve as a magnet itself. Now, how and where to hunt for these gurus is very simple: attend exhibitions, events, parties and ramp shows. Make sure to have preppy talks with renowned people and exchange contacts once you’ve made sure they remember your name.

If you by nature possess striking good looks, it is a cherishable asset. But if you have an average face and figure, start working on it.

* Eat what is healthy and not fattening. Take extra care of your skin and hair. Build confidence, the ramp awaits your arrival.
* You need to put your life in an entirely different lime light when you plan to switch to this career. May it be of a short time span, it will result in adding a revitalizing tinge to your overall career journey.
* You can commence your career with low budget modeling assignments like catalogue modeling & television ad modeling. Once your face gains social media recognition the cyclone will start heaving you up the ladder.

Just like you made portfolios back in school and high school, an impressive one will be needed currently as well. Make an attractive, eye catching portfolio and distribute it to various modeling agencies. If you succeed to get into some low budget project even, "do not miss the catch". Prove your talent and dive into the wider pool of this lucrative business.

Now looking at one side of the coin it is vital you see the other side as well. As it was mentioned above in the article as well that modeling is a short lived career. Here you see a booming time period of growth, success and opportunities which eventually slide down as you advance further. Hence it is recommended that you opt for this path for a limited time only, as it will not yield you lifetime profits, you may chose it to fill the vacuum but it shall never be the only choice!

(*) Isabelle Lima is an academic writer and an author. She writes essay for Essay Buzz. By writing articles for different blogs she helps student with their studies on different subjects.

The main objective here is to give every author that enters their book excerpt as much social media exposure as possible so please retweet all the entries that you like in this group’s Docs! I’ll start the ball rolling by retweeting every new entry to my 228,000+ followers - @freelancejoe

It wasn't too long ago that teachers relied on blackboards and books alone to convey information in the classroom. Today's teachers, on the other hand, have a near infinite selection of hardware,
software and apps to choose from when deciding how best to reach students at every grade level.

Technology is overtaking chalk dust for better or for worse and changing not only how classrooms operate, but also how students learn.

The Incorporation of Technology

But first it might help to visualize just what kinds of transitions are taking place. E-books, which are easy to update and nearly free to produce – are becoming a staple of curriculums that once
relied on expensive and cumbersome hardback editions.

Electronic devices like a laptop or tablet are replacing spiral bound notebooks at an amazing rate. Teachers are using
interactive whiteboards to make their lessons more dynamic. Collaborative apps are inspiring a project based learning explosion. Taken together, these changes mean that the modern classroom is a very
different place than the classrooms of even a decade ago.

Effects of Technology in the Classroom

One major consequence of this integration of technology into the classroom is a shift in the teacher-student relationship. Whereas teachers once held the keys to all knowledge, today the learning
process is much more democratic.

In one Pew Research Center survey, conducted in collaboration with the College Board and the National Writing Project, a majority of teachers surveyed believe that access to the Internet and
technology is making more self-sufficient researchers. Many of those same teachers specifically stated that technology in the classroom could be a useful educational tool.

The Benefits of Technology in the Classroom

Technology may be democratizing education in other ways, too. Some teachers are helping the lowest-income students – who may have access to a mobile device but no computer at home –
master the increasingly important STEM disciplines (science, technology, engineering and math) in and out of the classroom with smartphone and tablet apps.

A Verizon Foundation survey found that students
who are allowed to use mobile devices and apps right inside the classroom tend to be more interested in STEM subjects. Additionally, shy students who might not otherwise participate in classroom
discussions can contribute in online collaborations and students with different learning styles have a greater chance of succeeding alongside their peers.

The Downfalls

The main downside of the increasing integration of technology into the classroom experience is that no one has yet identified exactly what effects heavy technology use has on developing
brains. In the Pew Research Center survey cited above, many teachers pointed toward technology as a way to explain students' shorter attention spans and inability to persevere when tasks become
challenging.

Critics of the idea that technology is hurting student performance suggest that if the way students learn is changing, it's the responsibility of the education system to keep up.

The Importance of Technology

In general, however, teachers are embracing technology in the classroom because of the way it promotes student engagement and learning outside of the classroom. Everything from online lesson plans
and programs that let students learn at their own pace to collaboration apps and cloud computing, these technologies are helping teachers become not just instructors, but also
facilitators empowering students to take charge of their own education.

(*) Jennifer Thayer is a technology writer who loves using her tablet to share helpful ways people can utilize technology in their day-to-day lives. Follow her on Twitter (@TechyJen) to see what other tips she comes up with.

Google is not only renowned in the cyber world, but it is equally popular in the academic world as well. Although Google is widely used among the masses, there are certain features which are particularly beneficial in the classroom. Google apps for education are such tools that offer various smart apps for the teachers and students to improve the learning process.

Google apps have the potential to help the academia that aims to enhance the teaching experience of educators and the learning experience of students. Here I will discuss those smart apps that stand out in the product line of Google that academias around the world can benefit from. Here they are:

1. Gmail: Gmail is the most widely used service for emailing. Using this efficient emailing service, students can correspond with their teachers, share informative materials with fellow students or follow up with the faculty for different projects. They can perform all these tasks in an enormous space of 25GB.

2. Google Calendar: Google Calendar is yet another important app by Google Inc. It allows students to organize academic activities and schedule day-to-day tasks. They can also schedule dates for performing activities related with a project or set notifications for important tasks.

3. Google Drive: Google Drive is a cloud-storage system that allows students to create, store and manage files. This provides one platform for the students where they can share information, exchange knowledge and access projects. Students can avail up to 15 GB of free space where they can maintain all their assignments, homework, etc.

4. Google Sites: Google Sites is another vital tool that students can capitalize on for making interactive websites. With this feature, students can create a website where they can collaborate on projects, share files and discuss issues related with their academia. Besides, students can easily build a website without doing the tedious coding and scripting.

5. Google Moderator: Google Moderator is a universal tool for crowdsourcing. It allows students to vote for the best topic, question or methods related with a course. This enables the teachers to choose the most popular and favored way for educating the students and in turn maximizes the interest and productivity of the learners.

6. Google Docs: Google Docs is a useful app for students to create, edit and present documents. It is like the student’s online office tool where they can create an assignment, modify a draft or view their completed projects. Needless to say, it is a very handy tool for students!

7. Google Slides: Google Slides lets the students create slides and publish them online so that both educators and fellow students can view their work. With this interactive tool, students can add videos, animation and text into their presentation that they can edit later.

8. Google Sheets: Google Sheets is like an online spreadsheet that makes it possible for the students to organize data and statistics. It allows students to create lists, tables or charts using calculator and formulas. This allows the students to analyze results, track data and examine projects in a time-efficient manner.

9. YouTube for Schools: YouTube for Schools is an exclusive feature by YouTube that allows the users to streamline educational videos and share them with others. By availing this tool, students can be exposed to the world of education where they can engage in endless learning. Teachers can also use this tool to inspire students with the latest developments in a field.

10. Google Scholar: Google Scholar is an online search engine for scholarly journals. It indexes academic papers published by the most popular and largest publishers in Europe and America. It helps students gather the available information about their area of subject for the purpose of research and analysis. This helps students review the available literature on the subject before starting an assignment or project.

11. Google Books: Google Books is a helpful tool for students for finding academic books on any subject. Using Google Books, students can preview a book and order its print version without going to a book store. In this way, students are able to seek relevant resources at the comfort of their space.

12. Google Translator: Google Translator is an efficient multilingual translator for translating words or phrases in other languages. This app facilitates the students with understanding texts in foreign languages. Students can also use this app for building and improving their vocabulary arsenal.

(*) Brendan Rowan is an author of many educational blogs. He is also a professional coursework writer at courseworkhelppros.co.uk. You can follow him on Google Plus.